Intelligence Report Evaluation

Intelligence Report Evaluation

Report Evaluation

Gang-related murders and drug activities pose a challenge to law enforcement. The mandate of the law enforcement agency is to protect citizens by dealing with crime. Arresting criminals is one way of reducing crime. Arrests are not enough, and as such, lowering the crime rate through prevention is essential in law enforcement. Prevention, however, cannot take place without intelligence and investigative activities hence a need for law enforcement intelligence. Information is thus crucial since it assists in the prevention and resource allocation (“Understanding Contemporary Law Enforcement Intelligence: Concept and Definition”, n.d.). As a Commander of the Western District, it is thus essential to evaluate intelligence made available. There are different types of gangs, according to the National Gang Threat Assessment (Carter, 2009, p22). The two types of gangs involved in the report include prison gangs (TTG) and Regional Street gangs (Saints and Demons).

Information Available for Decision Making

The intelligence report indicates that drug-related murders occurring in 2018 were gang-related. The two gangs in question, namely the demons and saints, were responsible for the majority of the killings. It is interesting to note that most of the victims were in their 20s. Even though some did not have drugs on them, their deaths were gang oriented. The statistics, therefore, give enough information to make an informed decision. The few deaths over 30 years were predominantly not gang-related. The common drugs in the death cases are crystal meth, heroin, and cocaine. These are considered to be hard drugs hence aggravating the drug menace in Big City.

All this information is crucial in intelligence evaluation since it simplifies planning and strategizing. The occupation of the victims is however missing from the report. Victim occupation is vital in determining the financial capabilities and lifestyle of the victims concerning drug use and subsequent cause of death. There is enough information to make an informed decision since the report is well reasoned and supported by evidence. The evidence includes the murder statistics given that consists of gang affiliation and drugs in the murders.

Agency Collaboration

Information/intelligence collection cannot be done through the use of an unreliable source(s). It, therefore, means that for information to be considered authentic, it must be sourced from a source that qualifies as legitimate. Unreliable data cannot be shared; hence cannot be used as valid intelligence (“Law Enforcement Analytic Standards”, 2012, p15). The analyst has collaborated with other agencies in the intelligence collection process. The criminal database, for example, has been used in the use of murder statistics. Court records have also been used to authenticate information in the intelligence report. Collaboration with other agencies makes the data reliable.

Information Validity

The report does not include information concerning the occupation of the murder victims. This information, as mentioned earlier, is essential in determining the lifestyle of the victims. It, by extension, explains the relationship between the victims and the demons and saints gangs. The occupation information thus is an additional question to be researched as far as the report is concerned. The report is based on data from the Big City Western District Murder Statistics. In this regard, the information is valid. Detectives and courthouse records have equally been used to collect data. These two sources are not only reliable sources but credible sources as well.

Information used in the report contains facts in the form of data from the Big City Western District Murder Statistics. The information concerning the emergence of a new gang (tall tower gang) is also a fact as brought forth by an undercover police officer. The existence of the three gangs as well as activities connected is thus fact. The planned activities of the TTG, for example, are documented.

Source Reliability

For information to be considered reliable, it means that it is not questionable based on the source of the data. The source, in this case, involves court records, undercover police, murder statistics from Big City, and an attempted murder informant. All the above are not only varied sources but reliable. The undercover police officer, for example, is a reliable source by being privy to activities carried out by the gang. The court records and detectives are equally accurate information sources. Gang-related cases are brought forth in court for sentencing hence making court records highly reliable. Detectives are also involved in acquiring gang-related information pertinent to arrest and subsequent sentencing of gang members. The murder statistics give an exact account of the number of murders carried out concerning drug and gang affiliation in Big City.

The report is not complete since it does not contain victim occupation, which is a crucial piece of information. With the addition of this information, appropriate action should be taken. The response, for example, would involve heightened surveillance of the TTG clothing stores as well as video and audio evidence of the gang activities. The audio information collected, for example, is not clear enough as it is vague. Vague information may not be deemed valid hence the importance of clear video and audio evidence. The information given by the defendant informant also needs to be authenticated. Despite being an essential piece of information, collaboration would be crucial.

Legality of Information

It is vital to authenticate information in intelligence collection to make information legal. Illegal information (information that is not valid and reliable) thwarts prevention, planning, and strategy efforts. The data is accurate, reliable, and collaborated, making it legal. Legality translates to an unquestionable use of the information collected.

Executive Summary to the Chief of Police

The report, in view of the sources used, is both reliable and valid hence making it legal. It lacks a crucial piece of information, namely the occupation of the murder victims, which is pertinent to the intelligence report. In light of this fact, intelligence analysts need to include this information to understand the motivation behind drug use and gang affiliation better. All other information documented is, however, pertinent and legal hence can be used to determine subsequent action.

Overview of the Findings

The findings indicate that the victims are male predominantly in their 20s. The report equally suggests that a majority of the murders are gang-affiliated (Saints and Demons). The region in which the murders took place is also common, indicating increased gang violence in the three areas. Findings suggest that a third gang TTG, which is a prison gang, intends to take over gang activities hence making it a more organized and notorious gang. The latter group has imported weapons through the Big City port, further exposing Big City to gang violence and drug use. The TTG gang’s intention to take over translates to more chaos occasioned by war between the three gangs. Findings indicate the import of weapons through the Big City port of entry.

Evaluation and Recommendations

The report being legal, as indicated, can be used to determine the next course of action. Recommended action involves gathering and inclusion of information that pertains to murder victims’ occupation to better understand reasons for drug use and gang involvement. Heightened surveillance of TTG clothing stores is necessary to authenticate information collected concerning the new gang. The gang is well organized according to the information given by the informant. Based on the information provided, it thus is essential to expand information collection strategies that include recruiting more informants in especially in prison, where the gang is based. There exists an undercover police officer who should continue gathering information.

The Big City port has been identified as the smuggling entry point hence attracting immediate action. Collaboration between customs and border enforcement agencies is thus paramount. The search protocol at the port would need to be heightened to minimize weapon entry into the region. The customs border protection is mandated with the protection of national Borders under the department of Homeland Security (“Department Of Homeland Security U.S. Customs And Border Protection”, 2014). Working with agencies such as the DEA and ATF is thus paramount to adequately deal with the issue at hand, which involves both drugs and firearms.

Collaboration and information sharing between law enforcement agencies is inevitable in the fight against drug and gang-related crime in the region. Collaboration between local and federal agencies has its challenges that involve a low level of regard for collaboration (Stewart, 2011). Having information is one step closer to dealing with the crime. However, action, as pertains to the information gathered, is of utmost importance. For example, a lack of arrests of the criminals thwarts collaboration efforts as well as intelligence efforts. Proper search protocol, as well as evidence handling, is essential in the arrest and subsequent sentencing of gang members. In light of this fact, it is highly recommended that evidence processing and storage be handled with a high level of professionalism. Search protocol has to be observed; hence police misconduct in the search and arrest process should be dealt with accordingly. It minimizes the chances of criminals being set free for lack of indisputable evidence.

Reference

Carter, D. (2009). Law Enforcement Intelligence: A Guide for State, Local, and Tribal Law

Enforcement Agencies. Retrieved 30 January 2020, from https://it.ojp.gov/documents/d/e050919201-IntelGuide_web.pdf

Department Of Homeland Security U.S. Customs and Border Protection. (2014). Retrieved 30

January 2020, from https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/documents/cbp-directive-2130-021.pdf

Law Enforcement Analytic Standards. (2012). Retrieved 30 January 2020, from

https://www.it.ojp.gov/documents/d/Law%20Enforcement%20Analytic%20Standards%2004202_combined_compliant.pdf

Stewart, D. (2011). Collaboration Between Federal and Local Law Enforcement. Police

Quarterly, 14(4), 407-430. doi: 10.1177/1098611111423744

Understanding Contemporary Law Enforcement Intelligence: Concept and Definition. Retrieved

30 January 2020, from https://fas.org/irp/agency/doj/lei/chap2.pdf